Our Invitation to Give Advice and Reform

Written April 12, 1994 while bin Laden was in Khartoum - this 4-page letter to the Saudi royal family, sent on letterhead from his London front, explains his contempt for their "regime" and his refusal to return to the country. Angering the king, bin Laden was consequently exiled and told he was "not allowed" to return.
Translated by the CTC at West Point Military Academy; minor errors that resulted in poor English, at the fault of the translators themselves, have been corrected to prevent giving an unfairly skewered view of the author.

On several occasions you have asked us to return to the country, expressing this request with great insistence. You have used a number of methods and ways to get the message across.

God only knows how much we miss our homeland, and there is no other country that we long for. How could this not be true, given that it is the cradle of Islam and the source of the Word. It is also the birthplace of the Prophet and his childhood home.

However, the past and present situation, along with the connected events, have convinced us that it is necessary for us to remain in exile, knowing full well what is behind your desire.

We do not say this because of our suspicion or because we think ill of your intentions; however, actions and events have forced us to think hard about returning. Just to list a few of the actions to which we are referring: We were prevented from traveling, our money was frozen in foreign bank accounts, a defamation campaign was waged against us in the local and international press, and finally, you attempted to cut our ties with the homeland by confiscating our passports. Your actions indicate to us what your intentions are for us.

However, all these matters are of little importance since they are of a personal nature, and the discord between us involves issues of concern that are important and concern the whole Ummah.

In our first statement, we promised that we would address this situation. The fulfillment of our promise comes in this statement. We have done justice to those who deserve it and harm to those who have done harm.

We will summarise the issues briefly and without long-winded details, and we will explain matters in more details in subsequent statements, God Willing.

First, on more than one occasion, our religious scholars have advised you to lay off those actions that have involved breaking rules and commiting crimes that run against God's law.

However, all you have done in response is mock us, stonewall us, and refuse to take appropriate actions to remedy the situtation. Your actions did not end at that - you have comitted greater transgressions in the land of God and Religion. Hence it is not possible to remain silent.

A group of Ulema who have had enough with corruption have begun calling for reform, and they have submitted numerous petitions. Intellectuals, academics, business people and former government officials have joined them. All of these people have submitted a number of appeals for reform. In the year 1411 a petition was submitted, during the Gulf War, which was signed by close to 400 people, calling for reform and end to injustice. But you ignored their advice and ridiculed them, and conditions continued to deteriorate further.

By 1413, these reformers had not given up. They came back and submitted additional petitions. One of the petitions forwarded to the government identified the country's ailments and the necessary cures. The petition outlined deviations from the Shari'ah, the failures of the regime, the major flaws of the government, and the suffering of the Ulema, who have been marginalized and persecuted.

The aforementioned petition discussed the flaws in the media, which has become a tool to glorify and deify individuals. The media is an instrument used to alter and falsify the facts, to attack and defame good people,a nd to falsely decry injustice against the Ummah. All of this is done without taking the appropriate actions.

The monetary and economic situation continues to worsen. The future looks bleak, in light of the huge debts that have burdened the country. These debts were the result of the personal wastefulness of government officials. All of this occurring at a time when taxes have risen and people are being more frugal in order to deal with what has taken place.

I have discussed the contemptible social situation in the country, which has recently become critically dangerous. I am especially concerned with the water service, because water is the most important element of life.

I also reviewed the condition of the armed forces. The Gulf Crisis revealed the lack of preparedness, the need for troops, and the ineptitude of its leadership. All of these shortcomings exist in spite of the astronomical amounts that have been spent on the military.

The petition also discussed the condition of the judicial system, where Shari'ah law has been suspended; it has been replaced by temporary laws.

It is known that these temporary laws or policies have resulted in support for the infidels. Also, this behavior is against Islamic law. This has been stated by the Ulema, among them the late Shaykh Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab - may God rest his soul.

The aforementioned petition raised these issues in a kind, clear and honest fashion. Giving advice to those who govern is a necessary requirement in Islam, but all of this has not helped. The petition resulted in ridicule for those who endorsed it and sympathized with its cause.

Those who wanted reform have continued their efforts. They formed the "Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights," with the intent of supporting justice. However, the committee was received in an even worse fashion.

All of this has occurred with the blessing of government officials. These officials have implemented policies of obscurantism and opposition to reform. Among the Ulema, those who refused to be co-opted or corrupted have been isolated. As for the committees, they have been co-opted or incorporated, and they have become arms of the regime. These committees have issued declarations and statements similar in character to those issued by the government.

These committees have given the public every reason to withhold their trust from them. Yet these committees have dared to ask the public to withhold their trust from those who deserve it, such as scholars and preachers.

Second, the current situation is characterized by the corruption of the Shari'ah, the spread of evil, the restriction of worship, and the waging of war against just people who are hunted at home and abroad. In fulfillment of our promises and advisory duties, we would like to announce the arrival of our brothers and scholars into the country. They will offer knowledgeable advice, and they will ban all prohibited activities. We are all a part of the call to Islam, and will united in our efforts to achieve a common goal.

As a result of the current state of affairs in the country, we continue to insist that you abide by the requests of the Commitee of Legitimate Rights and all other legitimate requests.

It is not possible for us to work from within due to the terrorism and pervasive fear. From our position here and in consultation with our brothers in the Arabian peninsula, we have established the committee for advice and reform.

Finally, we ask God the Almighty to bless the Ummah in this righteous task. May God strengthen its obedience, break its disobedience, increase its knowledge, and keep it from all that is reprehensible. We also ask God to bring us goodness and ward off evil.

Note: If the organization responsible for this particular text is ever removed from the list of IEEPA-sanctions then its suitability for Wikisource will have to be re-examined and it may face deletion.